Fred had a big mouth. Everyone called him a blabbermouth. Although he was only six years old, his mouth moved up a down faster than a diving board on a hot summer day. It wouldn‚??t of someone else‚??s life. But Fred always blurted out the first words that popped into his brain and it caused all been so badly if he‚??d occasionally asked a question to someone or even showed a hint of interest in sorts of trouble.
It seemed Fred could never hold onto his words. Not even for a second. As soon as they popped into his head they'd shoot out his ears, bounce off his nose and boomerang out his mouth. Take at school. When it was printing time, Fred worked hard, printing his alphabet just right. He wanted it to be perfect. He carefully held his pencil, making sure his letter "L" was standing straight. But when he looked up, there was Beatrice wrapping her hand around the pencil. It was just the way teacher said not to do it! Well before Fred could blink an eye "Ping, Pong, Poof!" Words starting popping into his head. They shot out his ears running along his nose and boomeranged out his mouth: " Beatrice isn't holding her pencil properly!"

Miss McGuillicutty, Fred's teacher, surprised at a student yelling out, pushed her glasses up her nose, then snapped, "Fred! Don't tattle! Mind your own business!"
Fred shrunk down in his chair and lowered his head between his shoulders. The kids gave Fred a steely glare. Especially Beatrice! Nobody likes a tattletale. Fred buried his head further between his sinking shoulders. He walked home slowly that night. Each time he kicked a can, he asked:
"Why does no one play with me?" ‚??Why don't I have any friends?" "Why does no one play with me?‚?Ě "Why don't I have any friends?"

By the time he arrived home his mouth had settled into a full-blown frown. But he brightened up as he saw some chocolate cookies on the kitchen table. Entering the kitchen, he noticed his sister Beatrice was naming her colors to mom. Although Beatrice was only in Kindergarten, she was so proud of knowing her colors. "Look mom, that color is red! ... Look mom that color is blue."

Then it started again. Words popped into Fred's head. "Ping! Pong! Poof!" In a blink of an eye, they shot out his ear, bounced off his nose and boomeranged out his mouth.
"I can even spell color words! It's easy!
RED. R. E. D.
BLUE. B. L. U. E."
Beatrice gave Fred a shove, then ran to her room. "Come back!" pleaded mom. But Fred's bragging had spoiled Beatrice's special time with mom.
"Go to your room Fred "scolded mom. That was mean. Showing off in front of your sister, robbing her of a special moment.

Then it happened again, "Ping, Pong, Poof!" Words started popping into Fred's head. Before he had a chance to think, they shot out his ears, missed his nose completely and boomeranged out his mouth, "That's not fair!
His mother turned her head quickly and echoed again slowly with meaning. "Go to your room!" Fred observed her eyes tightening together and knew to get going. The tense air lifted with a familiar "ding, dong " at the front door.
A jolly laugh and the clicking of an old cane brought everyone barreling to the front door. Grandpa Henry's here!
"Come here for your grizzly bear hugs!" growled Grandpa Henry with open arms. Fred and Beatrice dived into his arms. " Fred's in trouble! " yelled Beatrice. "And no one likes him at school either. And why is that?" asked Grandpa Henry"
Because he's a tattle tale,‚?Ě said Beatrice smugly.
Fred quickly went very sullen and walked slowly to his room.

Grandpa signaled everyone to back away and followed Fred. Fred being much younger than Grandpa arrived promptly to the bedroom and sat on his bed with covers over his head. It took Grandpa a bit longer to get there but in no time, that grizzly bear hug of his had Fred talking and explaining his problem.
"Come with me!" said Grandpa taking Fred's hand.
"It seems there's only one thing we can do!"
"What's that? Asked Fred
"Go to the horse races." answered Grandpa.
"Go to the horse races!" echoed Fred looking puzzled. "Yes," said Grandpa. "And then the ship yards.

Fred had no idea what Grandpa was talking about but he really didn't care. He liked horses and liked ships even more, so he was glad to go. Although Grandpa was a slow walker, he was a fast driver and arrived quickly at the horse races.

Fred couldn't see how horses could help but all the hustle and bustle at the race was exciting. People moved every which way, yelling and running with tickets in their hands. Suddenly everyone ran towards the track. People pointed binoculars at the horses gathering at the starting gate. And bus the gate lifted promptly and the track was transformed into a display of flying sinews bustle muscles. The thundering hooves of such powerful beasts shook the ground. Everyone yelled as the horses reeled toward the finish line.
"Oh Grandpa! Did you see the power! Did you see the muscles . . . the might!‚?Ě
"Did you see the small and the tiny?" interrupted Grandpa in a piercing tone. Fred's eyebrows almost dropped to his nose.
"What do you mean, small and tiny? Those horses are huge! " Argued Fred.
"Yes they are, agreed Grandpa. But they're controlled by a little piece of steel in their mouth called a bit."
"No I can't believe it," argued Fred shaking his head.
"Yes!" insisted Grandpa. Those powerful horses turn left and right all because of that little piece of steel in their mouth. Why a little tug left on the reins and that giant horse turns left. A little tug right and that horse turns right. The rider can do anything he wants. All because of a little bit of steel called a bit.

Fred sensed Grandpa was trying to teach him something but shook his head confused.
"Come on!" beckoned Grandpa, taking his hand.
"That was lessening one! Now off to lesson two, . . . the ship yards.

Fred sensed Grandpa was trying to teach him something but shook his head confused.
"Come on!" beckoned Grandpa, taking his hand.
"That was lessening one! Now off to lesson two, . . . the ship yards.
Fortunately the horse races were close to the lake and they arrived quickly. Grandpa took Fred's hand and led him to a long pier. They walked and walked. Neither Grandpa nor Fred could see any water because of the giant walls of steel on either side of the pier. Finally in desperation, Fred jumped high into the air, hoping to see the top. He became frustrated and asked, "What are those tall walls on each side of the pier? I can't even see the water!" Before Grandpa could answer, one of the walls started moving. Fred screamed and jumped into his arms. "Help Grandpa! The walls are moving! We're going to get hurt!
"Calm down Fred! " cautioned Grandpa! "It's a ship! It's a ship! It's a big ship!"
By the time Grandpa said it a third time, Fred finally got it. But wow, was it huge!
The ship's horn blasted and waves thundered back and forth rocking the dock. Grandpa grabbed Fred and crouched low, holding onto the base of the dock.
Standing beside the ship, Fred gasped with big round eyes. "Yikes! I can't believe how big it is!" Fred took a large gulp as the giant mass of steel pulled into the bay. In the distance as he viewed the entire ship he yelled, "it's longer than my school! It's wider than my road. It's like a moving football field!

"Grandpa!" yelled Fred in awe. "That ship is huge! That ship is gigantic!"
"Yes," agreed Grandpa. "But it's controlled once again by . . . "
He stopped and smiled, then slowly repeated, "It's huge but it‚??s controlled by something small. He perked up and bent down as he pointed Fred's eyes to a little flap at the back of the ship. Do you know that gigantic hull weighs thousands of tons but once again it turns left and right all because of a little flap at the back called a rudder. The captain, who's like a little ant compared to the ship, has a little steering wheel he turns with his finger. With just a tiny pull left that monstrosity of steel turns left and with a tiny pull right that monstrosity turns right. He smiled as he stood up.

"Ah hum," he coughed. Funny how a little thing can control something so big. Don't you think it's something like a horse?"
Fred felt Grandpa was still trying to tell him something.
"Come on!" yelled Grandpa, directing Fred into the car. "Your mother doesn't like to be kept waiting for dinner."

As they went to get into the car, three fire trucks sped down the road. Billows of smoke poured into the sky over the distant neighborhood. People started running to get a better look at the fire. Grandpa stopped a police officer, "What's happening officer? That looks like a big fire!"
" Everyone's fine," answered the officer. " The family got out in time. Can you imagine a small kid started that big fire playing with little matches?
Grandpa thanked the officer and they got back into the car.
"Come on Fred! We'd better get back for dinner!"
Fred wanted to see the fire but he knew Grandpa was right. They needed to get back for dinner.
After driving for a short distance Grandpa broke the silence.
" I have three questions," said Grandpa. "Isn't it amazing how that big fire was caused by a little match?"
"Why yes," said Fred looking a bit puzzled. Grandpa continued, "Isn't it amazing how that big ship was controlled by a little rudder."
"Why yes," said Fred again, this time feeling confident Grandpa was definitely trying to teach him something."
"Isn't it amazing how those large horses were controlled by a tiny bit?" asked Grandpa.
"Yes," said Fred feeling more confused than ever.
They continued driving in silence. Nevertheless, words were bouncing around Fred's head like Ping-Pong balls. Unable to keep them in his head any longer, Fred blurted, "Grandpa, what are you trying to tell me?"

Grandpa stopped the car and parked. He turned and looked at Fred with a gentle smile. "Isn't it amazing that your life, big and exciting as it is, is controlled by the words that come off your little tongue? Like the thundering horses, the huge ships, and the blazing fire, your life is controlled by something small too."

Grandpa, I can't help it! Words won't stay in my head! "They just pop in, bounce out my ear, then boomerang off my tongue." Grandpa Henry thought for a minute then took out a little box and asked, "Do you have quick hands?"
"Yes," said Fred scratching his head.
"Then flap your hands up and down as quick as you can," instructed Grandpa. Fred felt sort of silly but flapped his hands up and down as fast as he could. Grandpa looked at his watch, timing Fred. He hummed and hawed for awhile but finally nodded his head signaling Fred to stop. "I think you can lick this problem." said Grandpa confidently. "You've got pretty fast hands!"
"Why do I need fast hands?" asked Fred?

Grandpa handed Fred the little box instructing, "Open the box and you'll see."
Fred, opening the box was dumbfounded when he saw ear plugs inside.
"How?" asked Fred, puzzled at seeing ear plugs.
"Whenever a word pops in your head, I want you to put these ear plugs into your ears as fast as you can." Grandpa saw by Fred's squinting eyes that he was still confused. Grandpa went on to explain. "You see Fred, these ear plugs will keep words in your head. They won't have a chance to pop out your ears and boomerang off your tongue. You'll have a chance to hold them in your head and ask, "should I say this?"
"But how will I know if I should say the words?" asked Fred.

Good words are soft and round. They're warm and cuddly. They fill a room with a fragrant aroma and make people grow and feel stronger. They're true words that glow and light the darkest rooms.
"Does that mean I should keep tattling words in my head?" asked Fred. Grandpa laughed and nodded his head. "Then how will the tattling words ever leave my head?" asked Fred. "They'll be stuck in my head forever. They'll never get out, especially if I wear ear plugs!"
"Say a little prayer for the person you tattled on!" replied Grandpa. "Have a real love for that person, instead of a desire to get them in trouble. With true love and a concern for that person, those critical and tattling words will melt away."

As they arrived home, Fred seemed changed. It had been a long time since he had sat peacefully at the table with his sister. As he sat down looking at the delicious turkey dinner, his eyes turned to his sister, where he noticed she was eating peas with a spoon. If there was one thing Fred knew, it was how to eat properly. He glared with a low squint into Beatrice's face. The words: "Beatrice's not using a fork" popped into his head.

Like a cowboy doing a fast draw, he grabbed his earplugs and blocked those words from shooting out his ear and onto his tongue.
Everyone laughed. "Are you going swimming?" asked dad with a snicker. But Fred couldn't hear and just looked back at his dad with a confused look.

Grandpa Henry explained the situation. But mom and dad weren't quite sure they liked Grandpa's idea. They didn't want any son of theirs going around wearing earplugs in public. Nevertheless, seeing Fred and Beatrice get along, they gave their nod of approval.

Fred folded his hands together. "Lord, help Beatrice to have better manners at the table. May she eat her food with good manners, so she'll be healthy. May I be a good example."

Suddenly the tattling words in his head melted away and disappeared completely. Fred took the earplugs out and continued eating. Mom and dad smiled as they realized Fred was controlling his tattling and finally getting along with Beatrice.
That night was a new beginning for Fred and Beatrice. In time they actually became good friends. Even the kids at school started to like Fred. He began to have friends everywhere.

As Fred got older, he developed such a habit of loving others and praying for their problems, bad words melted before they even had a chance to get started. Bad words didn't pop into his head anymore.

Other than for swimming, he didn't need earplugs. Fred grew to be a man of few words. But when he spoke, people listened. People respected him and considered him wise. Fred learned to be careful with the words that came out his mouth. He learned the hard way that little words can cause big troubles if they're not controlled.